Colt King Cobra Stainless .357 Magnum Double/Single Action 2 1/2″ Revolver
SOLD FOR: $1,825.00
LSB#: LSB260611JS060
Make: Colt
Model: King Cobra
Serial Number: K0527C
Year of Manufacture: 1988 / Modern
Caliber: .357 Magnum
Action Type: Single and Double Action Revolver with Swing-Out Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “KING COBRA”. The right side of the barrel is marked “-357 MAGNUM CARTRIDGE-” / “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”. The crane and crane cut are marked “K0527C”. The left side of the frame is marked with a Rampant Colt.
Barrel Length: 2 1/2″, Solid-Rib, Full Underlug
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated blade with an orange insert pinned to the barrel rib. The rear sight is an adjustable square notch leaf set in a base pinned to the topstrap. The topstrap and the rib have a matte finish for glare reduction.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black rubber with finger grooves and gold Colt medallions and a speed loader cutout. There is minor handling wear and scuffs. There are no rips or tears. Overall, the grip rates in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Stainless Steel
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion or fouling in the bore. There is a faint ring in the bore about 1/2″ from the muzzle. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver’s stainless finish shows minor handling scratches and scuffs. There is a turn line on the cylinder. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear and legible. Overall, this handgun rates in Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The lockup is tight with minor play at each chamber. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Colt serial matching cardboard box and paperwork.
Our Assessment: Introduced in 1986, the original Colt King Cobra was a robust .357 Magnum double-action revolver built on Colt’s V-frame architecture and developed from the Trooper Mk V lineage. It combined coil-spring lockwork with a heavy solid-rib barrel and full-length underlug, giving Colt a durable service- and sporting-oriented revolver beneath the premium Python. Original production ran from 1986-1992 and resumed from 1994-1998, with both blue and stainless versions offered. Barrel lengths included 2 1/2″, 4″, 6″, and 8″, with the 2 1/2″ configuration recognized as the rarest of the standard original-production King Cobras. The stainless 2 1/2″ version is generally listed as beginning in 1988, making this revolver an especially desirable first-year example of the short-barreled variation.
This example presents in Fine condition with only minor handling scratches and scuffs to its original stainless surfaces and a cylinder turn line indicating normal use. The bright 9/10 bore with sharp rifling, clear markings, sharp screw heads, and correctly functioning double- and single-action mechanism are all strong attributes. Its original-style black finger-groove rubber stocks with gold Colt medallions remain in Fine condition, while the serial-matching Colt box and accompanying paperwork substantially improve the completeness and collector appeal of the package. The combination of strong condition, original configuration, factory accessories, and the scarce 2 1/2″ barrel makes this a particularly appealing example of the original-generation King Cobra. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY